Lordosis support

ABSTRACT

A lordosis support for a seat back rest, includes a support plate, tension members for holding the support plate between two frame legs of the seat back rest, the support plate having on each side at least one point of attack for a respective tension member, and an adjusting device for adjusting a tension force of the tension members by changing the distance between the two points of attack, wherein the distance between the two points of attack is adjustable and the adjusting device is configured to change this distance, wherein the support plate is a one-piece support plate, and the two points of attack are linearly moveably arranged at the one-piece support plate for translational movement.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/708,339, filed May 11, 2015 to the same inventorand entitled LORDOSIS SUPPORT.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a lordosis support for a seat back rest,comprising a support plate that is held between two frame legs of theseat back by means of at least two tension members and has on each sideat least one point of attack for the respective tension member, and anadjusting device for adjusting a tension force of the tension members.

Lordosis supports of this type are provided for example in the seatbacks of automotive vehicle seats and serve to support the spine of theuser in the region of the lumbar vertebrae so as to achieve a healthyseat posture. The force that the user exerts on the support plate hasthe effect that the support plate is pushed back and reaches a positionin which it is offset rearwardly relative to the plane of the framelegs. When, now, the tension force of the tension members is increasedby means of the adjusting device, the support plate is drawn closer tothe plane of the frame legs, so that it is less compliant to the forceof the user and, correspondingly, provides a stronger support action.

In known lordosis supports of this type, the tension force of thetension members is increased by reducing the effective length of thetension members.

For example, EP 1 190 127 B1 describes a lordosis support of the typeindicated above, wherein the tension members are configured as flexiblecables that are deflected, approximately in the center of the supportplate, in a direction in parallel with the frame legs. The ends of thesecables are connected to a common connector that can be displaced in thedirection in parallel with the frame legs by means of the adjustingdevice, whereby the effective length of the cables is changed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a lordosis support whereinthe supporting force can be adjusted more easily.

In order to achieve this object, according to the invention, thedistance between the points of attack is adjustable, and the adjustingdevice is configured for changing this distance.

When the tension members are held under tension and, consequently, arestraight, the two tension members form the slanting sides of atrapezoid, the smaller base side of which is formed by the line thatinterconnects the two points of attack. When, now, the distance betweenthe points of attack is reduced by means of the adjusting device, i.e.the connecting line between these points is shortened, the distance fromthe frame leg, which distance must be spanned by the tension member, isincreased accordingly. If the length of the tension members has notchanged, then this increased distance can only be compensated by thetension members assuming a straightened posture in which they form asmaller angle with the support plate, so that the support plate isbrought closer to the plane that is defined by the frame legs.

In another embodiment, however, it is also possible that the length ofthe tension members themselves is variable. For example, the two tensionmembers may be formed by a continuous cable that passes from one frameleg via the two points of attack of the support plate to the oppositeframe leg and is not fixed at the points of attack but is only deflectedthere. Then, when the distance between the points of attack is reduced,the length of the tension members increases because the total length ofthe cable remains constant. In this case, the larger length of thetension members in relation to the connecting line between the points ofattack permits the support plate to be displaced further away from theframe legs, so that the lordosis support becomes more compliant.

In both cases it is an advantage that the relative movement of thepoints of attack that is reduced by the adjusting device is a movementin a direction at right angles to the frame legs. If the adjustingdevice is arranged laterally at one side of the seat back, as is commonfor reasons of easy access and operability, then the adjusting devicemay consequently be configured such that it draws the points of attackapart or forces them closer together, and it is not necessary toredirect the force of the adjusting device into another direction. Thispermits to reduce the frictional resistance and thus permits an easieroperation of the adjusting device. Moreover, the invention permits toconsiderably simplify the manufacturing process for the lordosissupport.

Useful details and further developments of the invention are indicatedin the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiment examples will more described in conjunction with drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a lordosis support between two frame legsof a seat back rest;

FIG. 2 is a section along the line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, but for a different adjustmentposition of the lordosis support;

FIG. 4 is a section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sketches of a lordosis support according to anotherembodiment in two different adjustment positions; and

FIG. 6a is a sketch of the lordosis support of FIG. 5, showing theadjustment device therefor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The lordosis support shown in FIG. 1 has a support plate 10 that is heldbetween two parallel frame legs 14 of seat back rest by means of twotension members 12 in the form of flexible bands. The support plate 10has been formed for example by plastic injection molding and is composedof two half-plates 16 which have identical shapes and are displaceablyheld in engagement with one another in positions rotated by 180°relative to one another. To that end, each half-plate has a projectingtongue 18 that is displaceably guided in a complementary duct 20 of therespective other half-plate.

At the edges facing away from one another, each of the half-plates 16has a respective point of attack 22 for the associated tension member12. This point of attack 22 is formed for example by a slot-likestructure in which a corresponding bulge of the tension member 12 isanchored in a form-fitting manner.

On one side of the seat back rest, at the right frame leg 14 in thisexample, a known adjusting device 24 for adjusting the lordosis supporthas been arranged. The adjusting device has a Bowden cable 26 the outercable of which is supported at a counter bearing 28 of the onehalf-plate 16 whereas the inner wire is anchored at a counter bearing 30of the other half-plate.

When the back of the user exerts a force onto the support plate 10 viathe cushioning of the seat back which has not been shown here, theflexibility of the tension members 12 permits the support plate to yieldto some extent, as has been shown in FIG. 2. The principal plane of thesupport plate 10 is therefore slightly offset (downwardly in FIG. 2)relative to the plane that is defined by the frame legs 14. The tensionmembers 12 are tensioned and therefore have the tendency to draw the twohalf-plates 16 of the support plate apart. This separating movement ishowever inhibited by the Bowden cable 26, so that the support plate 10may not yield further and, consequently, exerts a support action ontothe back of the user.

Since, in this example, the support plate 10 is subject only totensional forces that have the tendency to draw the two half-platesapart, all that is required of the adjusting device 24 and the Bowdencable 26 is to be configured such that these tension forces can beabsorbed. Consequently, the inner wire of the Bowden cable 26 needs nottranslate any thrust forces in this embodiment.

When the user wishes to adjust the lordosis support so as to be“harder”, she draws the two half-plates 16 closer together by means ofthe adjusting device 24 and the Bowden cable 26, as has been shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. This reduces the distance between the two points ofattack 22, and the tension members 12 are subject to an additionaltension force causing the support plate to be drawn closer to the planedefined by the frame legs 14.

Just for the purpose of comparison, FIGS. 2 and 4 also show a lowerframe leg 32 of the seat back, which lower frame leg is shown as areference for the position of the support plate 10 and thus facilitatesto recognize the different positions of the support plate in FIGS. 2 and4.

It is an advantage of the arrangement described herein that the relativemovement between the two half-plates 16 of the support plate occurs in ahorizontal direction, i.e. in the direction in which also the Bowdencable 26 enters into the interior of the seat back. The force of theBowden cable may therefore be transmitted directly to the half-plates 16without any need for a deflection or change of the direction of action.The tension members 12 may simply be formed by short bands or, as thecase may be, also by injection-molded plastic film hinges each of whichhas one end firmly connected to one half-plate 16 and the other endfirmly anchored at the frame leg 14.

The construction is self-centering, i.e. the support plate is always inthe central position between the two frame legs 14, regardless of therespective adjustment position of the Bowden cable 26. Moreover, theinvention facilitates to arrange a support plate in the respectivelydesired height between the frame legs 14, and it is possible to providemeans for height adjustment, if desired.

The two half-plates 16 of the support plate having practically identicalshapes can efficiently be produced in the same injection molding die.

Commonly, the support plate 16 has the shape of a slightly curved basketthat is concave on the side facing the user. In the embodiment that hasbeen shown here, the width of the support plate is also varying inaccordance with the distance between the points of attack 22. When thelordosis support is adjusted to be soft, as in FIG. 2, the support platehas a larger width. Nevertheless, the user is well-supported againstlateral forces, because the entire structure formed by the support plate10 and the tension members 12 forms a deep recess for the back of theuser in this condition. When, in contrast, the lordosis support isadjusted to be hard, as in FIG. 4, the two half-plates move closertogether, and the relief of the support plate becomes narrow, so thatgood lateral support for the spine of the user can still be obtained,although the lordosis support does not form such a deep recess in thiscondition.

Instead of composing the support plate 10 of two parts, it is alsopossible in another embodiment just to provide adjustable points ofattack at a one-piece support plate. An example of this variant has beenshown in FIGS. 5 and 6. There, the tension members 12 are formed by acontinuous cable that has a constant length and extends from one frameleg 14 to the other. As the case may be, a plurality of such cables maybe provided in different heights. A one-piece support plate 10 issupported at the cable with its left and right lateral edges and thuscauses a trapezoid-shaped deflection of the cable. Points of attack 22′for the tension members 12 are in this case formed by ledges that extendin vertical direction, (normal to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 5)and form on the back side of the support plate, i.e. on the side facingthe cable, a slightly elevated bulge at which the cable is deflected.The two points of attack 22′ are displaceably guided in the supportplate 10′, so that the distance between them can be changed by means ofan adjusting device which has not been shown here, the effect of theadjustment been visible by comparing FIGS. 5 and 6.

When the distance between the points of attack 22′ is reduced, thiscauses the length of the tension members 12 to be increased because thetotal length of the cable is constant. On the left side in FIG. 6, twostretches x and y have been drawn which form a right-angled trianglewith the tension member 12. When the length of this tension member isdesignated as z, it follows from the theorem of Pythagoras:y ² =z ² −x ².

When, now, the points of attack 22′ are displaced inwardly by a distanced, the quantity x has to be replaced by x+d. The central part of thecable between the points of attack 22′ is shortened by 2d, and this iscompensated by the length of each tension member being increased by d.Consequently, z has to be replaced by z+d, and the result is:y ²=(z+d)²−(x+d)² =z ² −x ²+2d(z−x).

As z is larger than x, this means that increases in proportion to d.Consequently, y increases in proportion to the square root of d. As ydesignates the distance between the plane of the frame legs 14 and theplane of the support plate 10′, this means that the support plate 10′moves further away from the plane of the frame legs, i.e. the lordosissupport becomes more compliant.

FIG. 6a shows the arrangement of FIGS. 5 and 6, which uses the Bowdencable arrangement of FIGS. 1-4.

As shown, counter bearings 28′ and 30′ are attached directly to thepoints of attack 22′. Counter bearings 28′ and 30′ have been shown in asomewhat elevated position only for the purpose of clarity of thedrawing.

The equivalent of the tension members 12 of FIG. 4 are tension members12′ in FIG. 6a . The only difference is that tension members 12′ do nothold the support plate 10 which is now held by tension member 34. This,however does not affect the adjusting mechanism.

The tension members 12′ form part of the adjusting mechanism in thatthey draw apart the points of attack 22′, respectively, so that theBowden cable 26′ only functions to draw them together. The outer cableof the Bowden cable 26′ is supported at counter bearing 28′ whereas theinner wire is anchored at counter bearing 30′. An adjusting device 24′which is the same as adjusting device 24 in FIGS. 1-4, is connected withthe opposite end of Bowden cable 26′, for adjusting the lordosissupport, and operates in the same manner as adjusting device 24 of FIGS.1-4.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lordosis support for a seat back rest,comprising: a support plate, tension members for holding the supportplate between two frame legs of the seat back rest, the support platehaving on each side a point of attack for a respective said tensionmember, and an adjusting device for adjusting a tension force of thetension members by changing the distance between the two points ofattack, wherein the distance between the two points of attack isadjustable and the adjusting device is configured to change thisdistance, wherein the support plate is a one-piece support plate, andthe two points of attack are linearly moveably arranged at the one-piecesupport plate for translational movement, wherein the tension membersare formed by sections of a cable that extends continuously from oneframe leg to the other frame leg, and is slidably guided over the pointsof attack at which is deflected such that it assumes a trapezoid-shapedconfiguration when seen in a direction in parallel with the frame legs.2. The lordosis support according to claim 1, further comprising acounter bearing attached directly to each point of attack.
 3. Thelordosis support according to claim 2, wherein the adjusting deviceincludes a Bowden cable having an outer cable attached to one saidcounter bearing and an inner wire attached to the other said counterbearing, and an adjusting device attached to an opposite end of theBowden cable for changing the distance between the two points of attack.